News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-01-06

| perhaps you can add to our know
ledge. All we know about this is that
Epiphany or Twelfth Night festivities
are still kept up in old countries and in
various ways-as Lord of Nlisrule in
Scotland, and King of the Bean in
| France"
SIN some parts of Touraine," replied
Mr.. Heywode, 81 have seen a very ella
| borate court ceremonial. After the bean
was found. five slices of cake were de-
voutly laid aside, one for our Lord, one
for His mo her, one for each of the three
wise men, and these were afterward
given to the poor. The King and Queen
were crowped, and a Kings Fool chosen,
who was expected to sparkle with wit.
The King was lifted three times IN his
chair, and obliged to make three crosses
on the ceiling with piece of chalk, ito
avert evil from the house, as they SAID
to bring good luck for the year, as
We should put it. That ceremony is
only possible, of course, among the
peasants aud simple folk, whose ceilings
are sufficiently low. But come" he
continued, passing on to the further end
of the room, and lifting portlere. He
invited them to follow him through a
hall, and into long room, where the
Twelfth Night feast was spread.
Shortly after Rosamund Young, flour
ishing a massive silver knife, proceeded
to divide and distribute the cake. Much
mirth ensued as the search went on for
the hidden articles, which were to con-
fer such honor for the night, and the fun
reached its height when Judge Wesley
John was found possessed of the bean.
So solemn king could never have been
since the days of Edward the Confessor
and Louis the Saint; but with a benign
smile he allowed himself to be crowned.
and even seemed to enjoy, in a resigned
fashion, the temporary supremacy he
had acquired. The pea fell to the girl
who danced the mazurka IN the Polish
style, and it is on record that she offered
her crown to Rosamund, who as prompt
ly declined it, laughingly condoling
with her on havinga consort who might
have serious scruples against her favorite
pastime.
Il may stir the people up to revolu-
ton, " she answered, mcrrily. eve may
insist on the King dancing the mazur-
ka--"
"Gravely dignified as he seems, " in
terrupt d Miss Young, 81 believe him
quite capa lie Of leading you all dance.
He will rule his own realm"
And so it proved. As, according to
the laws of the bean, all others had to
act like their sovereign, they soon found
that they had enough to do to follow
his eccentric Majesty's lead
OF all the line of monarchs crowned at
Heywode none had ever surpassed Mr..
John in decorous misrule, and his ex-
cessive gravity added to the success of
his role. If Twelfth Night were to finish
Christmas, Harold Heywode's guests
were determined to give it a right royal
ending.
Only Rosamund Young, pale and tired,
leaned back against the wall, watching
the Others with a wan smile.
Mr.. HeywOde turned his calm, pleas
ant face toward her as he made some
commonplace remark, and, noting her
weary look, offered her chair.
'They have forgotten the ring cake, "
she said as she accepted it. 81 never
knew that to happen before"
Speaking of rings, " he said, with an
effort of lightness, 'are you to be mar
ried soon2 AS e very old friend 1 may
ask?"
"I2 Oh! no. am not expecting to
be married at all"
81 beg your pardon. / understood
at least l was told-that Judge john
81 know. Every one has decided on
that except Mr.. John and myself. l
have never contradicted the report, be-
cause it has never before come to me
directly enough to enable me to do so.
When Miss Stanislas offered me her
crown just now, l could not go into de-
tails before everybody and tell her that
had no prior claim"
Certainly not"
The King had carried his court after
him into the drawing rooms; they fol-
lowed him like the rats after the pied
piper. Mr.. Heywode looked absently
toward the open door. Rosamund made
a movement to go.
''Stay one moment. Have you ever
heard from our old friend, Anna Mari,
who some way-how, l never knew,
but some way-came between u.s."
Rosamund's pale cheek flushed.
81 had letter from her yesterday"
She drew it from her pocket and hest
tated. 1t explains all that" she con-
tinued; "but 1 don't know whether 1
ought to show it to you"
He held out his hand silently, and she
laid the letter in it. As he unfolded it
something dropped; he uttered an ex-
clamation of surprise as he picked it up.
Was it possible! Could it be the slender
gold ring that Rosamund lost so many
years ago? Yes, there could be no mis-
take, for inside was engraven the date.
Tearing open the page, he read:
''RosAMUND Long ago I wronged
you. The ring Harold gave you was
loose on your finger. When you dropped
1t l found it, and made you believe he
had placed it on my hand. That was
not true; placed it there myself. For
give me if you can; l can never forgive
myself, though l meant no more than a
girlish piece of mischief. At least you
will believe from this that l am sorry,
and am doing what l can to atone for
my fault. A. NJ"
Mr. Heywode folded the note and re-
turned it without a word, but kept the
ring, holding it loosely in the palm of
his hand.
Rosamund, a little hurt and disap-
pointed at his silence, again turned to
go; but he laid his hand on her arm.
"Come this way" he said, and she
followed.
Leaving the noisy revelers, he opened
a door, assembled one flight of stairs, and
led the way into his own study.
''Have you any wish to keep this ring?n
he asked, as they stood side by side be-
fore the cheerful hearth.
She raised her head little proudly as
she answered: "None "
"After all the mischief it has wrought
/ could not bear to have you wear It, {"
and he dropped it into the fire. 'But
come here, see this" He drew her ten
derly within his arm as he unlocked a
tiny drawer in a tall cabinet. "Here is
the ring / once before offered you IN the
place of that. You refused it then.
Will you accept it now2 A Christmas
gift from me, token of peace and
lover Speak, my darling; surely | have
waited long" Then without waiting
for any reply, he raised the pretty hand
and slipped on the glittering circle
''Therel let there be no dropping this,
for see! ] fasten it on with kiss"
A shout of merry voices and a noise of
scampering feet soon warned them to
appear below.
"We shall have many years together
my precious one: we can easily spare
them this one evening"" said Harold,
and they advanced bravely to meet the
invaders, who were hunting for them
high and low.
''What no my liege, we have them -